Posted 9/16/2023, 9:45:00 AM
COVID Infections Nearing Initial 2020 Peak Levels As Winter Surge Looms
- COVID infections approaching 2020's initial peak
- Wastewater surveillance shows levels nearing Delta variant peak
- Modeling predicts 7-10% more of US population will be infected in next 1.5 months
- While cases may soon recede, they may not fall much before winter surge
- WHO reports concerning trends like rising infections, hospitalizations, ICU admissions
- WHO urges high risk groups to get any available booster ASAP
- US approves updated XBB Omicron boosters for ages 6+ months
- New boosters tailored to now near-extinct XBB.1.5 Omicron strain
- But expected to still protect well against current strains
- Top variants picking up concerning "flip" mutations that increase infectivity and immune evasion
